Potty training. Need help!!

[Wendy HS]

I have a 2 year old daughter that I am potty training, but I am needing suggestions. I have a 4 year old (that I am homeschooling) and an infant, so I am pretty busy. My question: Is there a technique that is somewhat time saving and not as messy as just taking the diapers off and letting them run naked. I trained my son with using underwear, but he lived on the potty for several weeks and when he didn't it was either messy or dangerous. We have carpet in all the rooms except the kitchen, he did really well with pooping on the potty, but we ended up with pee everywhere for a while if I didn't catch him at just the right time. We have tile in the kitchen and so I tried just letting him figure it out, but when he peed on the floor it made it extremely slippery and he would fall and hit his head on the floor, that's why he ended up just sitting on the potty for a good part of the day until he learned to pee also. He loved watching a DVD so he spent a lot of time on the potty just sitting until he peed. He didn't seem to mind and learned quickly.  If I can do it another way that isn't as messy, dangerous and doesn't make me spend 5 hours a day in the bathroom that would be great.  The main thing is the mess and them slipping on the hard floor. Does anyone have a good way to teach without having to worry about your carpet? Is it only going to work if I just throw away the diapers and go cold turkey? She is more than willing to go poop and pee in the big potty, but it is just because I catch her at the right time and sit her there. She hasn't figured out to go when she feels the urge, she just stands there and pees or poops on the floor, or the office chair, or wherever she happens to be. ha ha   I think I already know that there are no tricks to make this easier, but I wanted to check just incase someone had some great ideas on ways to make it easier. How on earth do mom's do it with more than one little one!!!!

[ExuberantDaffodil]

A good first place to start is acutely observing your two year old throughout the day and picking up on her elimination schedule. Even if it seems random at first, most little humans (and big ones!) do indeed have an elimination schedule. The first pee/poop of the day is the easiest one to figure out first. Stick with that one for a little while.

Talk about the potty, repetitively use hand motions (I put my thumb in between my index finger and middle finger for poop) and little noises (I make a pssssss noise for pee and small grunts for poop). Have potty-only toys next to the toilet for her to handle and play with. Put them away when she is finished so she associates them only with potty-time. 

Every time you go potty, take her with you (this works if you have a separate potty for her). One mom I'm in a homeschool co-op with even suggested setting the child in between your legs so that you are both using the potty at the same time. I tried that once, and my daughter didn't seem too keen on it, but it's worth a shot if your little one doesn't prefer her own little potty. 

Mostly, it's just like anything you are learning for the first time: it takes a pleasant attitude, lots of practice, and some trial by error. :)

HTH.